Articles

"And [Thoreau's] contempt for the state government of Massachusetts grew as well. In an effort to block local cooperation with the new federal law, Massachusetts had adopted an ordinance of its own officially denying state officials the authority to 'detain or aid in the ... detention,' anywhere within the state, 'of any person, for the reason that he is claimed as a fugitive slave.' But in 1851 and again in 1854, black citizens of Massachusetts were arrested and returned to their 'owners,' and the state government did nothing to prevent this injustice."

"Sidney stayed in Europe, trying to elude the thugs Charles II dispatched to kidnap or kill his political enemies. He visited Copenhagen University and signed the guest book with these explosive words: 'Manus haec inimica tyrannis, Ense petit placidam sub liberate quietem.' Translated, they say: 'This hand, enemy to tyrants, By the word seeks calm peacefulness with liberty.' Sidney's friends were so shocked that they offered to remove the page, but he insisted it remain.... In 1775, Massachusetts took its motto from Sidney's words in the Copenhagen guest book ..."